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Summary

The southern of three buildings within a Medieval settlement south-east of Holwell Tor. Part of a possible medieval settlement or farmstead comprising three rectangular, turf-covered stone foundations, at least two of which are probably buildings.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and surviving stone walls of a prehistoric settlement on Haytor Down including a hut circle and field boundaries with a Medieval settlement

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX77NE11
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 445008
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX77NE/57/3

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BUILDING (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD (Between) to 1832 AD (Between))
• ENCLOSURE? (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD (Between) to 1832 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1953/1960, SX77NE11 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV345523.

(13/05/1953) Three rectangular enclosures, evidently the remains of buildings, are at SX 7529 7764, SX 7529 7761 and SX 7531 7759. They are on a slight northern slope and their tumbled walls of untrimmed stone average 0.4m. high.
From the southern building a few sherds of coarse unglazed pottery were recovered from rabbit scrapes. Its nature suggested a medieval date, and the buildings may represent a small steading.
(26/04/1960) A 25" survey has been made.

Royal Air Force, 1964, RAF 58/6399 (Aerial Photograph). SDV225229.

('A' SX 7529 7764, 'B' SX 7529 7761, 'C' SX 7531 7759) Enclosures visible.

Everett, C., 1988, Haytor Down - Summary of Archaeological Features, HD61-62, Map 5 (Report - Survey). SDV359684.

Enclosure south-east of Holwell Quarry. Built on a fairly level area of the north-east facing slope. There is an entrance on the north-west side. The corners are rounded. The walls stand to a maximum height of 0.7 metres and are a maximum of 1.1 metre thick. Overall dimensions 14 metres by 9 metres. Probably a stock pen.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume One - The East, 20, Figure 1.4, Map 1 (Monograph). SDV299725.

Southern enclosure (4) of three Medieval buildings to the south-east of Holwell Tor. This rectangular enclosure was too large to have been roofed at 11.5 metres by 7 metres and was probably an animal pen. One of the gaps in its wall being presumably an entrance.

Newman, P., 1999, 2002, Haytor Down, Ilsington, Devon (Revised), 14, Figure 7 (Report - Survey). SDV346395.

(30/01/1999) A possible medieval settlement comprising 3 rectangular, turf-covered stone foundations at least two of which are likely to be buildings. They are sited on the moderately sloping, north-facing coombe, created by the saddle of Holwell Tor and Haytor Rocks.
The third structure at SX 7531 7759 is rather larger at 12.5m by 6.3m and could be an enclosure rather than a building.
The walls of all three structures are constructed from stone, now turf-covered but with neat edges exposed in places. The date is uncertain. The structures appear medieval, though they could possibly relate to the early 19th century stone industry in this area, probable dwellings. They are unlikely to be associated with the nearby field system which is more likely to be prehistoric (SX 77 NE 31).

GeoInformation Group Ltd, 2010, 1:625 2010 Colour (12.5cm resolution) (Aerial Photograph). SDV346026.

Buuilding visible on aerial photograph.

Ordnance Survey, 2013, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV350786.

Feature shown on modern mapping.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7021 - Haytor Down: Survey Report (Ref: A1/2/1999)

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